He said firefighters had not been able to go inside the building to investigate later in the day.

But from what people who were inside told them, it sounds like the fire started in the area above the pool.

Apartment manager Kathrynmary Schultz said somebody smelled smoke in the pool area, and everybody left the building.

She said one man who was in the pool was a little slow, and she told him he had to get out "NOW."

Schultz said everybody was out of the building before the fire alarms went off.

Rodriguez said one reason for stubborn fires at the apartment complex in the past was the lack of fire walls. The complex was built before they were required, he noted.

"I think one of the problems is the attics are open and fire can go the full length of the building," Rodriguez said.

Williamson, who lives nearby, heard about the fire on the scanner, and he and his wife went to watch.

"This was my shift," he said. "I would be here."

Terry Stovall Sr. lives in an apartment near the clubhouse. He knew there was a fire but didnÂ?t realize how bad it was until he looked out.

"I realized IÂ?m seeing through the building," he said. "Oh, my God. With this wind like this, I can see how it went that fast."

"ThatÂ?s my insurance company," Stovall said, pointing to the door of one of the small businesses in the building. "Fire is not manÂ?s best friend."

Denise Feehrer owns His & Hers Hair Fashions, which is in the building. The walls were still up around her business, but she didnÂ?t know today if the structure was damaged.

She said one of her employees left to get supplies and returned to find the building in flames.

Mike Molnar was driving down Jefferson when he saw the smoke. He called a friend who lives in the complex and agreed to go see what was burning. He was happy to report, he said, that his friendÂ?s apartment was fine.

A street all the way around the clubhouse isolates it.

For a short time, firefighters evacuated buildings on the side the wind was blowing toward.

Jefferson Boulevard was closed between 26th and Logan streets for most of the afternoon.